Snow Bizness
It is March in Wisconsin
and, any day now,
no matter how green the meadow,
how tawny the wrens who
flew in for Spring,
nor how green
the ivy grows,
we know our TV screens
will sketch the sad
Doppler Crayola scrawl:
One more blizzard.
Snow bury-
ing our lawns,
shunning the calendar,
sticking thick thorns into
Madison’s collective psyche.
As suburban assault vehicles
zigzag on the Beltway
(drivers oblivious to the concept
of SUV rollover ratings),
our guts are twisted and we
tend to cluster in bars,
seeking solace in our famous
Wisconsin micro-brews.
Shallow coping mechanism, I know,
but until we are assured the
stout-stemmed ironweed and
apple saplings are in bloom,
we await our twisted fate…
moods indigo, yet somehow
Madison’s
eccentric
people
never
seem
to
leave.
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
De Jackson of Whimsygizmo fame was gatekeeper in the Imaginary Garden With Real Toads, and she gave us a huge list of words. A veritable cornucopia; in fact, I was only able to use most of them: Sketch, screen, march (well, March), Snowberry (um, snow bury-ing, groan), tawny, meadow, stout-stemmed, cluster (not tempted in any way, shape, or form to pair an obscenity with that word – see, I’m all grown up now), zigzag, leave, twisted, indigo, shunning, ivy, sapling, and thorns. I didn’t use elder, shallow, or adaptation. Dang!
Thanks, De, for one more chance to comment on the weather here in Madison. I really do love it here, but, dear Lord, would it possible for the snow to melt before June?
This is also posted at my poetic igloo, Poets United. Peace and silky long-johns, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Susie Clevenger (@wingsobutterfly)
Love the title…Snow Bizness Another blizzard how disheartening. Madison has a strong citizenry. This southern flower could not take such chill.
Linda E.H.
Nice work, Amy.
Roger Green
There’s no business like snow business, there’s no business i know. Everything covered up with whiteness. All the traffic grinding to a stop. Slippery roads are hardly thought as niceness,…
surfillinois
Really enjoyed this – beautifully controlled free-verse. The last five words beat like a stubborn foot stomping. The shape makes me curious – a female figure? A pen? An upturned bottle, perhaps…
vivinfrance
Your poem is how I feel. A brilliant piece of writing. Icy cold here in NE England and jock is buried under a metre of snow at home in France. Roll on the thaw, never mind Spring!
brian miller
oy…just when you start to have hope that things will turn warm again…no snow here but we lost 40 degrees overnight…bah….come on spring!
kaykuala
There’s so much to look forward to. From slushy white to lush greenery. It’ll just be a matter of time. Your response to Real Toads is fantastic, Amy! You’ve taken quite a substantial number of the given words. It’s such a perfect blend in your poem! Nicely!
Hank
Grace
We just had flurries this morning and temperature is dipping zero again ~ I am really looking forward to spring, but its coming later and later ~ No more blizzards and snow please ~
Kim Nelson
You bring the people of Madison to life in this poem, Amy. And the beauty of that part of the country peaks out from the edges of the page. Nicely done!
Teresa
It does seem that Mother Nature is just not willing to give up this year!
Kerry O'Connor
Your opening stanza really captured me – I love your phrasing and word choice (especially the tawny wrens). The inclusion of the human factor makes the whole piece so relevant and immediate.
El Guapo
*whines* I just want sunlight.
margaretbednar
Hmm. I grew up just over the IL boarder. Perhaps winter is why Madison is the college party capitol of the world ? Ha ha
deanabo
Very nice writing! I really like the picture as well.
Josie Two Shoes
Being raised in Dakota, another member of the “land of nine-month winters” (well, almost – it snows in October and sometimes in April), I could relate to this poemso well. Someone always got over-eager and set out flowers too early, or tried to wear sleeveless dresses for an early Easter Sunday… and both froze! Great poem, hang in there, Spring will come. I will send you some of our warm afternoon sunshine. We are told it might get up to 90 here on Sunday! Not bad for March. :-))
Sherry Blue Sky
Such a long winter you are having. I hate to tell you we MOWED THE LAWN for the first time this past weekend. Yoiks! Hope your snow goes away soon. It is over-staying its welcome.
whimsygizmo
Brrrr. My 70+ in Vegas is lookin’ pretty good right now, Amy. 😉
I love the form of this, as well as the language. Wonderful.
SaraV
Hi Amy! Excellent use of the words, a perfect slice of life–I really wanted to join in, two of my favorites-botanical words and De 🙂 But, its been a crazy week. Oldest son just moved out. Business is busy. Anyway hope the snow leaves soon and Spring gets sprung! Warm hugs ~Sara v
Emma llm calling
beautifully captivating
uponthewingsofnight
This poem graciously and gracefully expresses the frustration of winter hanging around and wearing out its welcome. Many of us here in Wisconsin do take comfort in our microbrews(I’m a big fan of Spotted Cow myself). Let’s hope spring is on its way here soon.